Family values upheld over Derby course by Cape Of Good Hope

A growing family relationship with Epsom continued for the offspring of Hveger as Cape Of Good Hope earned himself a position in the Investec Derby line-up with victory in the Blue Riband Trial.

His older siblings set a tough standard for Aidan O’Brien’s up-and-coming three-year-old, who was driven out by Ryan Moore to hold Cap Francais by half a length.

View full result and watch race replay

Cape Of Good Hope’s Galileo full-brother Highland Reel became one of the sport’s most recognisable globe-trotters with Group 1 triumphs across Asia, North America and Europe. He entered the ranks of Coolmore stallions after retiring in 2017 while year-younger brother Idaho, who was Classic placed and a winner of the Hardwicke Stakes, has also joined the fold at the Beeches Stud.

Since Idaho, two more Galileo sisters, Cercle De La Vie and Via Condotti, have been minor achievers for Andre Fabre while Cape Of Good Hope had already shown more promise in winning at Tipperary and chasing the smart Quorto home in the Superlative Stakes.

Kevin Buckley, Coolmore’s representative at Epsom, said after the race: "Obviously he’s a full brother to Highland Reel and Idaho. Idaho was third here in the Derby and Highland Reel won the Coronation Cup, so the family have experience and success around here.

"We’ll see how he comes out of this, Aidan has said openly he was just ready to start so we’ll get him home, see how he is and see where the owners want to go."

Coolmore imported the Danehill mare Hveger, the Group 1-placed sister to Elvstroem and half-sister to Haradasun in 2009, after she had produced the Group 1-placed Valdemoro by Encosta De Lago.

Although her previous foals have been registered as bred by the Hveger Syndicate, her most recent, another two-year-old Galileo brother, is listed as bred by Coolmore.

Hveger does not have a yearling and interestingly Coolmore turned to Galileo’s son Churchill to cover her for this breeding season.

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